Wire connector



18, 1964 H. s. NEALE 3,145,068

WIRE CONNECTOR Filed Oct. 9, 1962 r INVENTOR.

BYHERBERT s. NEALE A TTOPNEYS United States Patent 3,145,068 WHQE CONNECTOR Herbert S. Neale, 601 Grace St., Albert Lea, Minn. Filed Get. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 229,441 4- Claims. Cl. 3392ii0) The invention broadly relates to connectors, more specifically to wire connector and in particular to a connector for making a temporary connection of two or more wires.

It is an object of the invention to provide a wire connector which will easily and effectively connect two or more wire leads. It is also an object to provide a wire connector which will connect wires of different sizes for a more or less temporary connection. It is a further object to provide a wire connector which allows easy and quick release of the connected wires. It is a still further object to provide a wire connector which sets upright for easy access and which may be grasped and operated with one hand.

It will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will apear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the connector in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view opposite to that of FIGURE 1 showing the connector in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the connector in closed position with ends of wires in connected clamped position.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the connector with the ends of wires shown in connected position.

FIGURE 5 is an end view opposite to that shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-45 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one of the L-shapcd support members removed from the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the connector A includes a first L-shaped member 10 including the horizontal base portion I2. Extending upwardly from the base 12 is the vertical support 14 which terminates in the right angularly disposed top portion 16 which overlies the base 12. The top portion 16 terminates in a right angularly disposed upstanding lug I8 having the springreceiving slot 20. Further provided is the vertical support portion 22 extending upwardly from the base 12 spaced from and parallel with the vertical support portion 14 thereby forming a slot 24. The vertical support portion 22 continues outwardly in the form of the elongated bar portion 26. In addition, the base has formed on each edge thereof the groove 28.

A second L-shaped member 30 is provided which is identical to the first L-shaped portion 10, and the corresponding portions thereof are indicated by the same reference numeral accompanied by the small letter a.

Further provided is the main base member 32 which is formed with the channel 34 extending throughout the length of the base 32. The channel 34 has formed on each wall thereof the longitudinally extending flange 36 which are engageable with the grooves 28 of the base portions 12 and 12a whereby the connector A is removably mounted on the main base 32.

The first L-shaped member 10 is joined with the second L-shaped member 30 by simply inserting the elongated bar 26 of member I0 into the slot 24:: of the second L-shaped member 30 while simultaneously inserting the elongated bar 26a of the first L-shaped member 10. This brings the members 10 and 30 into the engaged position shown in FIGURES 1-5 and the base portions 12 and 12a thereof are removably slipped into the channel 34 of the main base. As a result of the above, the connector A is held upright by means of the main base 32.

The numeral 34 designates a metal coil spring which has the hook ends 36 and 33. The hook end 36 of spring 34 is engaged in the slot 20 of lug 18 of member 10 and the hook end 38 is engaged in the slot Zita of lug 18a of member 30, particularly shown in FIGURES 13. The spring 314 is normally in the closed position of FIGURES 1 and 3 urging the L-shaped members 10 and 30 slidably together. In this position, the wire ends 40 and 42 are clampingly held together between the convolutions of the spring 34. To insert wire ends, such as 40 and 42, in the clamping engagement of the spring 34, the operator presses inwardly on the outer ends of bars 26 and 26a simultaneously, and the members 10 and 30 are thereby slidably moved apart which stretches the spring 34 and opens the convolutions thereof, particularly as illustrated in FIGURE 2. With the spring convolutions open, the wire ends 40 and 42 may be easily inserted therebetween. Pressure on the ends of the bars 26 and 26a is released, and the spring 34 thereby returns to its normal compressed condition of FIGURES 1 and 3 which clampingly holds the wire ends 40 and 42 between the spring convolutions. Wire ends 40 and 42 are thereby connected through the metal spring 34. The wire ends may be easily removed by pulling the same from the spring convolutions or by pressing the bars 26 and 26a together to open the spring convolutions for easy removal of the wire ends.

It will be seen that the members It and 30 form the connector and may be used separately from or in conjunction with the main base 32. The connector A is particularly desirable where experiments are being run in that connections may be made or retained during changes in the experiment.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A device for connecting wires comprising:

(a) first and second support means,

([2) bar means extending from each of said first and second support means connecting said first and second support means in slidable relationship,

(0) coil spring means connected to and normally urging said first and second support means together,

(all said bar means forming pressure responsive means for moving said first and second support members apart to separate the convolutions of said spring whereby wires may be inserted therebetween for clamping engagement thereby when said first and second support means are allowed to move together.

2. A device for connecting wires comprising:

(a) first and second support means having (12) slots formed therein,

(c) each of said first and second support means having elongated bar means extending therefrom,

(d) the bar means of said first support means slidably extended into the slot of said second support means and (a) the bar means of said second support means slidably extended into the slot of said first support means,

(f) a coil spring connected'to said first and second support means, the 'convolutions of said spring being separated by pressure applied to said bar means for insertion of wire between the convolutions for clamp ing engagement therebetween.

3. A device for connecting wires comprising:

(a) a first vertical support having a (b) horizontally disposed slot "extending therethrough,

(c) an elongated bar extending from said first vertical 7 support,

(d) a second vertical support having a (e) horizontally disposed slot extending therethrough,

(1'') an elongated bar extending from said second vertical support and slidably positioned in said slot of said first support,

(g) said elongated bar of said first support slidably positioned-in said slot of said second support thereby joining said first and second supports in slidable relationship,

(h) a coil spring connected to said supports and normally urging the same together,

(i) the convolutions of said spring being separated by endwise pressure exerted on said elongated bars whereby wires may be inserted therebetween for clamping engagement thereby upon release of said bars.

4. A device for connecting wires comprising:

(a) afirst vertical support having a (b) horizontally disposed slot extending theret'nrough,

(c) an elongated bar extending from said first vertical support,

(d) a second vertical support having a (e) horizontally disposed slot extending therethrough,

(1) an elongated bar extending from said second vertical support and slidably positioned in said slot of said first support,

(g) said elongated bar of said first support slidably positioned in said slot of said second support thereby joining said first and second supports in slidable relationship.

(h) a coil spring connected to each of said supports and overlying said elongated bars, said coil spring normally urging said supports together with the convolutions of said spring closed together.

(i) the convolutions of said spring being separated by endwise pressure exerted on said elongated bars whereby wires may be inserted therebetween for clamping engagement thereby upon release of said bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 356,315 Hunt Jan. 18, 1887 1,812,142 Dreyer June 30, 1931 "$366,274 Ellis Nov. 27, 1962 3,093,431 Lewis June 11, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 472,995 France Sept. 1, 1914 195,499 Germany Feb. 12, 1908 366,912 Germany Jan. 13, 1923 

1. A DEVICE FOR CONNECTING WIRES COMPRISING: (A) FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS, (B) BAR MEANS EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS IN SLIDABLE RELATIONSHIP, (C) COIL SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO AND NORMALLY URGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS TOGETHER, (D) SAID BAR MEANS FORMING PRESSURE RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEMBERS APART TO SEPARATE THE CONVOLUTIONS OF SAID SPRING WHEREBY WIRES MAY BE INSERTED THEREBETWEEN FOR CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT THEREBY WHEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SUPPORT MEANS ARE ALLOWED TO MOVE TOGETHER. 